HD500x, L6 Link and 2 L2Ts

[Jakeallen]

Current Setup is:  HD500x L6 Link Out --> #1 L2T L6Link In/L6 Link Out  --> #2 L2T L6 Link In

 

With gear as follows:

 

HD500X  FX Loop:

                Boss RC-300 - using it only as the HD FX Loop intermediary since it has more inputs for...

                        GR 55

                        BeatBuddy (Drum Beat Pedal)

                        Mic/Harmony G-XT

2 L2Ts

 

This setup is sending the signal to both L2Ts but I have a number of other things that I have to put through the HD500x's FX Loop (thru a Boss RC-300) to get everything through L6 Link so that it splits to both speakers.  

 

I've been able to get this setup to work but I'm sure it sounds worse than it should.   So, I'd rather take things out of the FX loop and put them direct to the L2Ts so I don't have to depend on RC-300/Fx Loop solution. However, when I've tried to plug something else directly into another input on the #1 L2T (Line in, RCA in, side mixer inputs), it does not get sent to the #2 L2T.   

 

Can anyone suggest a simpler connection scheme to have it all work and sent to both speakers?  Or is it just a choice of L6 Link input vs. Direct Inputs to L2T?

 

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[bTW, I'm rather confused by the HD500x Input/Outputs, paths and FX Loop signal chain when it comes to this type of setup.  No one seems to have my (one man band)setup and there are no scenarios or simple explanations in any of the manuals for my setup.]

[silverhead]

In situations like that I use the HD500 audio outputs (not L6 LINK) to connect to either one of the L2t speakers. I use the Line In jacks on the L2t rear panel. The connect the two L2t's to each other via L6 LINK - each one's L6 LINK IN to the other's L6 LINK OUT. That way all sound coming into both speakers is heard through both speakers, in full stereo reflecting any stereo inputs.

[Rick_Auricchio]

I presume you really know that your setup doesn't sound as good as it can---you're not just guessing.

 

It seems to me that the FX loop is the wrong place to stuff all that equipment. You're carrying (and connecting) a lot more than you need. Every device in the signal chain can reduce signal quality.

 

Why use the complicated and large RC-300 when all you need is some type of I/O device (perhaps a small mixer)?

 

Get a small mixer and split the vocal and drumbeat out of the guitar chain. Try some of those pedals inline before the HD500.

 

So it will look like this: Beatbuddy to mixer. TC vocals to mixer. GR55 into HD500, either at input or FX loop. Output of the mixer to the audio input of the speakers.

[silverhead]

Note: your two L2t speakers include the only mixer(s) you will need on their respective side panels.

[Rick_Auricchio]

Ah, good catch. I haven't got experience with the speakers. That'll help and cut back on the equipment load.

 

So where I mention "mixer," just route those devices to the mixer built into the speakers!

[Jakeallen]

@Rick - Yes, I suppose I would be guessing that my setup is not ideal since I've figured it out on my own.  I'm not a music techy guy so I just assumed that I have a low probability of getting it right.

 

To clarify, My guitar signal goes through the GR-55 via 13-pin cable.  GR-55 then passes through to guitar input on the HD500.  This is necessary to have simultaneous HD & Synth out of one cable using my pickup controller.  Given that, I don't think putting things "before" the HD is as straightforward as you're suggesting.

 

So I think my fundamental question still stands.

[Rick_Auricchio]

Ah, now I think I understand, after looking at the units.

 

GR55 audio out goes to the HD500.

 

Microphone into the GT-X. Dry output of the HD500 to the GT-x so it "hears" your guitar chord to create vocal harmony.

 

BeatBuddy needs no input connection.

 

Connect the outputs of the HD500, the GX-T box, and the drum unit to inputs on one of the L2t's. Connect the speakers with L6 link and adjust levels at the speaker inputs to mix to taste.

 

Now you have minimal loss of signal quality, because nothing is passing through FX loops. This takes a couple more cables, but things will sound better. Use the balanced outputs of everything with standard microphone cables; doing so allows longer runs without hum/noise pickup.

 

See if the attached picture makes sense.

[silverhead]

Try this:

 

- connect the two L2t speakers together via L6 LINK as I described above, each one's OUT to the other's IN

- connect your other devices to your BOSS Looper as it seems you are already doing, and connect the BOSS audio outputs to L2t #1 stereo line inputs on the rear panel

- connect your HD500X audio outputs to L2t #2 stereo line inputs on the rear panel. Do not use L6 LINK output from the HD500X.

- balance the BOSS and HD500X relative levels using their respective output levels.

 

If you want to experiment, some pieces that you are now connecting to the BOSS device can be connected directly to other inputs on either of the L2t speakers. If you want to use the side panel mixer for these inputs you have other control and FX options to play with.

[Jakeallen]

Thanks guys.  The answer seems to be coming through that an L2T can't/won't send to another L2T BOTH an L6 Link input from HD AND any of its other inputs at the same time.  It's one or the other.

 

So I'll have to either keep the setup I have OR give up HD500X L6 Link Output.

 

Thank you!

[silverhead]

It's more a matter of receiving than sending. Each speaker has only one L6 LINK IN jack. Hence it can only receive L6 LINK data from one device; either the HD500 or the other L2 speaker - not both. In other words, the analog audio connected to the L2t speaker to which the HD500X is NOT connected has no way to get to the other L2t speaker, because the HD500X is already occupying the required L6 LINK IN port.

[Jakeallen]

@ Rick:

 

Thanks for that picture!  You were really close.  It's actually GR55 Guitar out --> G-XT IN;((Mixed with MIC IN)) G-XT THRU  --> HD500 Guitar IN.

[Jakeallen]

Also - the GR55 stereo outputs are still going into the HD500 FX loop return? Or put them directly into an L2T as well?  Wouldn't I be running out of inputs on the one L2T?

[Rick_Auricchio]

Your connection of GR55 --> G-XT --> HD500 is fine.

 

But you've got three stereo pairs, right? Yeah, that's too many for any of the StageSource models.

 

So I'm back to the ideal of a little mixer to combine all three pairs into one, then those go off to the L2t's Input 1 & 2. If you turn on the L2t's Stereo Link switch you can adjust both inputs simultaneously using just the Channel-2 controls.

 

A low-cost Mackie or Behringer mixer would do the trick: Put in all three stereo pairs, mix 'em, and send that stereo output to the L2t.

[ColonelForbin]

I briefly ran a GR-55 in tandem with my JTV59+HD500+DT25/L2t rig. I actually had a GK pickup attached to my JTV, so I was running JTV VDI to the HD500, and JTV-GK to the GR-55, and running the HD500 to the DT25, XLR to the main mixer (out to a pair of L2t's) and then sending the GR55 in stereo out to the main mixer, to the L2ts. The GR55 sounds incredible, and 100% wants to be as full range as possible. I bypassed the DT25 entirely with the GR55 signal, so it was a challenge to balance my levels.

 

It might complicate your rig a fair bit, but consider going with:

 

1.) The L2t's linked together as other people mentioned, to create a stereo pair

2.) The HD500 to the mixer on an L2t (use the 1/4" out from the guitar -> HD500)

3.) The GR55 to the FX return on the HD500, place the FX loop block last in the signal chain.

(set the FX loop to 50% mix so both the HD500 and the GR55 tones get blended)

-OR-

create a dual tone patch where the GR55 output gets processed on a "no amp model" path B, and run the FX loop as the input (can be 100% mix, place the FX loop in the second input portion only, so it doesn't feed into your amp model channel)

-NOTE: both amp model channels on the HD500 are in stereo, pan both center if you want full stereo, left and right if you want input A and B separation..

 

Make sure to place NO mono FX blocks AFTER the HD500 mixer block, like a reverb, or a noise gate. This will sum all the signals to mono. The HD500 looper does this. Using the FX loop as an input allows you to maintain a stereo signal from the GR55.  Place all those mono guitar amp FX into the amp model A channel ONLY.)

 

4.) Use the "dry out" from the GR55 to feed the vocal unit for pitch tracking

5.) The vocal and drum units to the mixer on the L2t.

 

Or some combination/variation of those ideas.

It can be way cool to balance / alternate or mix the HD500 sounds with the GR55 sounds, especially difficult to manage if they are not blended well.

 

Good luck!

[Jakeallen]

Thanks Colonel!!!

 

Any chance at all you could post a picture, drawing or screen shot of the way you described the dual tone patch approach you described above? As I said, I'm just easily confused by the signal paths, mixing and processing rules and where to place things. Like the looper - which I'd like to preserve the use of in "post" position. Thx again!